What is a reasonable salary?

What is a reasonable salary for a Norland nanny for a four day a week live-out job? It is her first job following completion of probabtion. She is asking for £100 a day net, but I believe this to be far too much. She seems willing to negotiate. I was thinking more £90-£100 a day gross.

I earned around what centrallondonmother is paying (degree educated, fluent French, teaching quals, 3 musical instruments to grade 8, ex county gymnast) 5 years ago working 24/5. As soon as you go over the standard 60 hours the salary shoots up. If you have a degree you can earn more. If you have additional skills you can earn more. This 'elite nanny' thing isn't new and there are always people willing to pay something for the profile which is pretty damn similar to their own if not better in terms of child rearing so they can go out and shop earn megabucks.

Most L3 qualified nannies with under 10 years exp can expect in the 400-600 gross range. Eden and Greycoat just happen to be at the top end of the market, as are their placement fees.

Btw Norlanders now have a degree so one would assume that the salary has been ramped up a bit again.

It's horses for courses really. There isn't an amount in the world I'd accept to work 10 hours a day for 6 days a week, EVERY WEEK, so good on you both for finding an amount that suits the both of you within the situation. Also, if you would have paid x amount for language and tennis classes and tutoring, then I reckon you've possibly saved in the long run actually. If it works for you and you are happy with it, fair play.

While I'd love to earn £700 a week after tax, I wouldn't commit to working every Saturday... I can't play tennis either

A nanny who is an LTA registered tennis coach could well be paid more. If they also had Qualified Teacher Status then parents may pay more for that. Can not compare apples and pears. However many nannies have additional skills and qualifications so maybe you could say a nanny with just childcare training/experience should get less pay.

I can play tennis, does not make me an LTACoach though, so if a high standard of tennis tutoring is required that could well add a premium to the salary.

Centrallondon - not sure what to make of your comment 'how little other nannies can earn'? I'd say a gross salary of £26,000 p.a. for a job where all meals and accomodation is provided is not a low salary?!

Our nanny is highly qualified so yes - does the same and more given the age of our children. But the big difference is she gets weekends off. I'm not sure many nannies would want to work 6 days a week for long.

Do take what the agencies say with a pinch of salt - they are hugely conflicted (you pay their fees which are based on a percentage of salary often and they want to keep the nannies on their books on side and get them the highest wage possible).

Thank you for your comments and opinions good to know how little other nannies can earn for the future but I think we're comparing two very different kettles of fish. Still, bearing in mind I have no tutor fees for tennis, entrance exams, languages etc I also save a few hundred pounds a week and the children prefer it being one person as well. I am assuming when you're quoting £450 top whack your nanny does the same and has similar qualifications? Thanks.

Oh, and they are extremely into crafts and baking- lots of scones, shortbread, and we also recently had courgette bread! Also lots of out door activities- they talk about 'forest schools' and self sufficiency a lot.

If you have girls send them to St Georges- several of the nursery staff are Norland Nannies and absolutely fabulous! Not sure if that is because of their training or just that they are genuinely great with children. My daughter loves them. They are older ladies, strict but lots of common sense, motherly and really big on manners.

Hi, I've only just joined as I was looking for information and this thread came up. Yes, I spoke to two well known agencies- Eden and Greycoat Lumleys before hiring our nanny. It seems to be pretty standard and our neighbours and friends seem to think so too. Childcare is unbelievably expensive in London. I should also add our nanny has to travel with us quite a bit too which reduced the number of candidates significantly as most nannies do not want to do this so you do seem to have to pay a premium. She works 10 hours a day six days a week.

The training costs £30,000 (I heard on Radio 4 a couple of weeks ago) but it is at least now recognised as a degree or combined with a degree or something...My question would be not who pays a nanny that much fresh from college BUT what 18/19 year old daddy and mummy dearest pays so much for training when you can become qualified in less than a year while being paid to work at a nursery (I did my NVQ this way) and in a couple of years experience you can also work for the rich & famous or work 24/6 in Saudi Arabia and have no life for loads of money.I think people choose a Norlander because they believe she will be from good stock, know which fork to use, speak the queens English etc

CentrallondonmotherThis is a very old thread indeed - 2009. Are you really telling me agencies have said you need to pay a live in nanny £400-£800 NET a week!!!!????? I think they're having a laugh at your expense. £300- £450 net is more like it from all the nannies and agencies we've spoken to. And they're qualified nannies, doing 12 hours a day 5 days a week. Interested to know who told you otherwise??

In Central London we were advised that £400-£800 (net) a week is normal for a live in nanny looking after three children (4,6 & 9) by various agencies. I suppose it depends on the qualifications you expect, how much vetting has been done etc. We pay £700p/w net and our nanny gets her own room and bathroom. She helps with homework saving on tutors (she is Oxbridge educated) and also played tennis to county level so is very active teaching the children to swim, play tennis etc. She also helps around the house with general chores and has an advanced driving licence though she is not a Norland nanny. She speaks four languages fluently and is teaching the children German and French.

We have employed a Norlander - a lovely young woman who was very down to earth and great with our kids (no fish knives in our house!). Norland agency has relatively recently massively increased the quoted salaries, we did not pay our nanny anywhere near what they're now citing. In this economic climate I think the salaries quoted are completely barking!

As a nanny myself I think you should be paying her £6 hr. If she is newly qualified then this is a good starting salary. If qualified for over 3 years you can negotiate pay depending on hrs and no.of children. But £10phr is way too much.

I think that pay is important and points to consider:

She does not live in your house.Does she eat your food?Does she drive her own car?Do you pay for petrol too?

Didn't anyone see the tv show about Norland Nannies on Sky? Can't remember what it was called, but it showed a year group of Norlanders and their training, placements in schools, them doing extra babysitting etc.

It did look like a thorough course - can't remember all of it as it was a couple of years ago... but they had to design and make a toy, learn how to bath and change a baby (making sure their hair was tied back?!?), learn Jolly Phonics signs etc.

They looked like fun, sweet people on the whole, but sooooo young... but maybe thats just a sign I'm getting old...

I will finish my training in June, do a year's probation and then qualify fully in May 2011. So sadly still paying. One day I hope I'll reap what I sow. Years worth of pub shifts to cover the training alone ... meep!

Realistically though, we're told to expect to pocket between £200 and £250 a week for a probationary job in London.

Sorry, not all that helpful I'm afraid! I should have checked my message ... didn't realise I hadn't said I was still training!

I'd say on £500 a week, the girl you interviewed would have to be really good at what she does! The big money should come with age and experience.

Norlanders aren't better or worse or even all that different to other nannies. I think people choose Norland because of the perceived level of confidence that comes with the brand name. For example, everyone knows that an iPod is pretty reliable and often go for that brand of MP3 player above a lesser known label. There are amazing MP3 players out there without the iPod brand, but they're sometimes harder to find. I can't believe I've just compared my training to MP3 players ...

There's also the training. The common misconception is that we are sticklers for ettiquette and all that jazz. Not so. We don't try to churn out mini-Einsteins etc. In fact, the amount of homework children are set really upsets me. We just try to provide as much fun, love and magic as we can. We love painting, craft, footy in the park, PritStiks, running around fields, bedtime stories and all sorts. And we love cooking really tasty grub in funky child friendly styles and portions! Lol.

And as for the uniform, I'd personally never feel comfortable wearing on the job. 1) It highlights the fact that the family can afford a nanny and so puts the child more at risk. 2) I don't want to be a trophy nanny.

In fact, a far cry from nannying for the rich and famous, loads of the Norlanders I know end up working for children in less affluent circumstances. Generally, the Norlanders I know trained at Norland because they have a vocation, want the best for all children of all backgrounds and want the best training they can find. Money is far less important. I've also found the training to be the most enjoyable 2 years of my life. Wouldn't change a second of it!

The important thing is this: all families are different and everyone has different needs. Go with what you feel comfortable with. You will find wonderful nannies in every salary bracket. Go with your instincts, with what feels right for you and your family.